C3 Exclusive Interview | WayForward About Sigma Star Saga

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Sigma Star Saga - Cubed3 Interview...
...Questions on an Innovative RPG!

Interview Conducted by Adam Riley :: Deputy Editor :: Head Writer >

In the hot-seat...

The following questions have kindly been answered by Matt Bozon, Creative Director and Producer of Sigma Star Saga at WayForward Technologies. The game is due to be published Namco

Cubed3: With most of the world focusing on systems like the Nintendo DS and other forthcoming next-generation platforms, what magic ingredient will be included in Sigma Star Saga to make people stand up and give the game the right amount of attention?

Matt Bozon: While we certainly are at the end of the GBA life cycle as the newer and more powerful handhelds come out, we didn't want to deny the millions of GBA owners out there by just abandoning their favorite handheld. We wanted to deliver what amounts to one last ''hurrah" for the GBA; a game that encompasses the progress of the past several years of GBA development and delivers a high-caliber gaming experience from Namco. I'm confident that SSS has some of the best graphics, sound, story, and gameplay available on the GBA. In fact, while you can draw various comparisons to other games (present or past), SSS will open player's eyes to the possibilities of blending genres that traditionally remain separate; gamers won't even realize how hard the fun train slammed into them until they can't put the game down.

C3: Mixing such a fine blend of 2D space shooting and action role playing in one game must be arduous at times. Have you been able to draw inspiration from any previous titles in those respective fields to ease the development process at all?

MB: Of course we always research what has been done in the past and see what worked and what didn't. All video game development is like this, which is what makes the evolution of gameplay, sound and graphics so exciting! You're never on top for long, because the next guy will always have a way to improve upon what you just did. I don't like to draw direct comparisons to other games since SSS is its own experience; it marks the evolution of the RPG. Chances are if you are playing it (and have knowledge of the classics), you will see the spirit of certain elements from games we all grew up playing. If you find yourself saying, "Hey, this is sort of like but better", then chances are that was one of the titles we all played when we were kids and it influenced us.

C3: Has your extensive past in handheld development taught you any lessons that have been implemented whilst working on the GBA this time round?

MB: Meeting deadlines never gets easier, and just because it sounds good on paper doesn't mean it will actually be cool when implemented into the game.

C3: If SSS proves to be a major success, where do you see the franchise heading in the future?

MB: It's been my goal from day one to deliver the best GBA experience that Namco has ever released, and to turn SSS into the next Namco RPG franchise. If the GBA version is well received - which I'm sure it will be - there is no telling where the franchise could go. If the series is continued, the next installment would be bigger, darker and take place on more of an epic scale. It would also feature new gameplay elements that evolved as we moved through development for SSS. More importantly, it would be influenced by fans of the first Sigma Star Saga